HalloweenTime at DLR Superthread #4

[momof6princesses]

"Everyone, run to DCA! Now! Hurry! Rare characters might be on the loose! Or something else! Go go go!!!

I love it, everyone run....let's hope someone gets there and we can have some pictures, something, anything! Do they not understand us DL lovers are on edge waiting alllll day!

 

[Sherry E]

I love it, everyone run....let's hope someone gets there and we can have some pictures, something, anything! Do they not understand us DL lovers are on edge waiting alllll day!

I'm running to DCA right now. Aren't you?

It took a loooooong time for Disney to get around to even posting about the 7 Dwarfs (after they had already left, apparently), and this new DCA surprise (whatever it is) is later in the day than what happened last week.

I am hoping Jamie signed up for the Disneyland Today Twitter alerts so that she will know to make a mad dash across the Esplanade (if she was in DL) to find out what awaits in DCA! Bret could be anywhere, but he might make it there too.

 

[kaci]

kaci --

I just gave you a shout out over in the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread too, for being the one to finally tell us what today's surprise is!

I totally agree -- I think this campaign is most definitely confused and confusing; vague; mysterious (but not in a good way); time-wasting; poorly structured, etc. For example, if Disney could announce #GetHappier on Disneyland Today last week so that people could make a mad dash for the ears, why not announce it today so people would know to run over to DL and meet the characters?

Disney could have done a better job of orchestrating how these Monday Surprises are revealed instead of having all of us waste our time, scanning multiple pages for info -- only to end up finding it on a non-Disney discussion board! But at least someone reported back so we know there was something happening today!

Thanks for the shout out

This is just the silliest promotion. And yet every Monday I find myself searching the interwebs to see what happened and inevitably find myself disappointed and irritated. What's the definition of insanity again? LOL

I need them to hurry up and release more Halloweentime details so I can have something new to obsess over!

 

[figment_jii]

I'm finally back in the land of the internet today, so I'm late to the #GetHappier discussion today. Sounds like as least they did something even if they didn't announce it earlier (so still better than two weeks ago). In some ways, I'm okay with that (make it a truly right time/right place type thing), but the hype leading up these Monday reveals makes it tough. It's a little like Limited Time Magic which lead to its fair share of disappointments. In some ways a Year of a Million Dreams was better...there was no Twitter/Facebook for people to get all excited about. The "magic" was random and if you happened to be there then you got pixie dust. If not, oh well, and for the most part, you didn't know that you missed out.

 

[Autty40]

Welcome aboard, Autty40!

I'm so glad you're enjoying (and hopefully getting some good information from) the Superthreads!

Of course I know who you are! (And I remember that your 2013 trip took place while The View was taping at DLR!) You not only followed my Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread last year, but you participated in the Theme Week Countdown! (By the way, even if you don't have another holiday season trip planned for DLR this year, you are more than welcome and encouraged to participate in this year's Theme Week Countdown in the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, which will begin on Monday, July 21st and end with the final theme on Monday, November 3rd! Chances are you probably took some photos during your November 2013 trip, so those photos can be used in the Countdown somewhere or another!)

Your trip sounds like it will be wonderful! Will this be your first Halloween Time visit to DLR?

Right around now (a.k.a. The Beginning of Summer), I begin to really, really look forward to Halloween Time arriving in September, because it's not far away at all. It is now within reach. When we consider that there is only one more week of June, we can basically just write off June as being "over." One more week is not all that significant. So then, September is only 2 months away from July. Once September starts, we will probably only have to wait another couple of weeks for Halloween Time to start.

The time will zoom by, and Halloween Time will be here in the blink of an eye... which I have to keep reminding myself as the temperatures soar higher and higher over the next couple of months!

I will absolutely contribute this year! I need to get my photos more organized!
We did go during The View taping last year. The crowds weren't a problem, but the only two days we were there the castle was blocked. I was really bummed that my DD2 didn't get to experience the castle during her first trip. But the entire trip was magical and filled with laughter and happy tears!

This will be my second trip during Halloween. But my daughter's first time so I'm planning it differently because of her. I'm really excited for the festival area at BTMRR. We really liked the Jingle Jangle Jamboree last year.

This board is invaluable when it comes to planning our trips.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for the shout out

This is just the silliest promotion. And yet every Monday I find myself searching the interwebs to see what happened and inevitably find myself disappointed and irritated. What's the definition of insanity again? LOL

I need them to hurry up and release more Halloweentime details so I can have something new to obsess over!

kaci --

Halloween Time info has to be coming soon -- at the very least, the MHP info has to come soon. Disney might as well use this frustrating, maddening, confounded #GetHappier deal to announce the info!

Gerard Butler was spotted at DCA today, and that would have made me happier!

I think that when we finally all get exasperated enough with this promotion and stop following along with it, that's when something will pop up that is more rewarding! I don't mind not getting any fun things myself, but I just don't understand the whole way this is being rolled out. It seems like everyone is confused, here and on Facebook. No one knows where to look. No one knows where to go. No one knows when a surprise will happen. No one knows if it will be announced or not. Everyone is wasting time combing all forms of Disney media. It's madness!









Courtesy of Disneyland Today: "Time to #GetHappier! The first 50 Guests to meet us in Paradise Bay and say "Monday" will get a glowing surprise!"


Go, Jamie and Bret! Go get those glowy things! Lol!

​

I'm finally back in the land of the internet today, so I'm late to the #GetHappier discussion today. Sounds like as least they did something even if they didn't announce it earlier (so still better than two weeks ago). In some ways, I'm okay with that (make it a truly right time/right place type thing), but the hype leading up these Monday reveals makes it tough. It's a little like Limited Time Magic which lead to its fair share of disappointments. In some ways a Year of a Million Dreams was better...there was no Twitter/Facebook for people to get all excited about. The "magic" was random and if you happened to be there then you got pixie dust. If not, oh well, and for the most part, you didn't know that you missed out.

figment_jii --

I know what you mean. The social media aspect of this whole endeavor is both an asset and a hindrance. I think at this point it should be all or nothing -- Disney should either announce when all of the surprises are happening and where we should look for them to be revealed, or reveal nothing from this point forward and stop posting those teaser things with the #GetHappier slogan on them just to get everyone worked up.

I just don't like that they have set it up in such a way where that people are going to be wasting time, scouring various pages and sites!

People who are, let's say, not as accustomed to Disney's way of doing things (maybe they don't follow discussion boards or other Disney pages and don't know too much about these events) probably have no clue what to expect, but they have a general idea that Disney is giving away freebies. They may not understand that those freebies are limited. They may not understand which park to go to. They may not understand that the freebies only seem to pop up in one park at a time. They may not understand that this is not going to be an ongoing Monday thing past Labor Day. I think there is a lot of confusion.

Also, it sounds like the surprise in DCA today was not equal for everyone! One guy mentioned getting Glow with the Show ears and VIP viewing for World of Color. Someone else mentioned going to a different CM and getting "a button"!! So that's another area in which some people will be disappointed -- they won't necessarily get what everyone else gets!

Madness!

I will absolutely contribute this year! I need to get my photos more organized!
We did go during The View taping last year. The crowds weren't a problem, but the only two days we were there the castle was blocked. I was really bummed that my DD2 didn't get to experience the castle during her first trip. But the entire trip was magical and filled with laughter and happy tears!

This will be my second trip during Halloween. But my daughter's first time so I'm planning it differently because of her. I'm really excited for the festival area at BTMRR. We really liked the Jingle Jangle Jamboree last year.

This board is invaluable when it comes to planning our trips.

Autty40 --

I remember that hideous set-up in front of the Castle, blocking any possibility of getting good photos of it.

The Halloween Carnival in DL is a gem. I don't know if the Villains tent is going to be that same "Conjure one Villain at a time" deal that it's been for the last 2 years, but aside from that silly set-up it's a fun area. I think the Halloween Carnival is better and more fully developed than the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, but of course the JJJ has Santa.

I look forward to seeing your photos in the Theme Week Countdown in the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread!

 

[Kilala]

They had snow on the castle in 2012. This was taken on October 25th

 

[BebopAngel88]

Welcome, BebopAngel88!!

Thank you for joining in!

If, for some crazy reason, there is no MHP on 10/7 because it is switched to 10/6 (every so often a Tuesday party will get switched to a Monday, if there is any sort of private, corporate event taking place in the park), would you go to the MHP on 10/6 or would you go on 10/10, even though that's your last day at DLR? I don't want you to miss it!

Of course, we should know the schedule for the MHP very soon, so we shouldn't be in suspense too much longer.

About Tuesdays being less crazy/hectic than Fridays -- The last MHP I went to was on one of those random Mondays that took the place of a Tuesday, and I felt that it was comparable in crowds to what Friday would be. Not out of control, unbearably crowded, of course, but just much more crowded than I would have expected it to be for a Monday night hard ticket event. Personally, I felt that there were too many people there for the event, but other MHP attendees felt differently. (Hopefully, figment_jii, Cheshirecatty, Kilala, and any other recent MHP-goers will give their opinions on crowds during their nights!) I would rather that Disneyland add more MHP nights and sell fewer tickets to each night instead of overselling the existing nights.

However, that Monday party was towards the beginning of the MHP schedule that year, and there were probably some weekend holdovers who stayed to attend MHP.

I've always thought that if the same number of tickets are sold for Tuesday parties, Friday parties or any other parties, and all of those nights sell out (which they do), the crowds for each MHP should be about equal.

And then someone (it may have been Nonsuch, but I don't recall?) brought up the fact that the earlier weeknight parties probably empty out faster and earlier in the evening because a lot of people have to get to work (and/or school) the next day, whereas the Friday parties probably stay busy all the way through.

That is a very good point, so that probably explains a lot of why Tuesdays (or Mondays, or whichever day) may be less crowded than Friday parties. People spread out to certain areas and then probably leave early!

You'll be there after Gay Days is over, and before CHOC Walk or the Utah break. But that 10/10 date will be the beginning of the Columbus Day weekend, so if you had to end up going to the 10/10 party instead of your planned date, you might encounter some bigger crowds in the parks and at the party.

I love the season too -- Fall (in or out of Disneyland) is spectacular for so many reasons! The bright splashes of orange everywhere.... the different kinds of creatively carved pumpkins... Harvest decorations... the aromas of pumpkin spice and apple goodies... the leaves changing colors... the smell of fireplaces beginning to burn in the distance... the cool morning air. What's not to love? It's an amazing time of year!

That would be a shame if it was switched to a Monday but I would definitely go on that Friday. I would still be uber excited about it! I haven't seen the Halloween decorations since 2009, so it has been wayyyy too long. I have a question though. What are the best apps to use in the parks? Is there one for characters?

 

[laura&fam]

The Halloween Carnival in DL is a gem. I don't know if the Villains tent is going to be that same "Conjure one Villain at a time" deal that it's been for the last 2 years, but aside from that silly set-up it's a fun area. I think the Halloween Carnival is better and more fully developed than the Jingle Jangle Jamboree, but of course the JJJ has Santa.

I was halfway through the wait for the 'Conjure a Villain' two years ago before I realized it was a big waste of time. I happened to get the one villain I wanted but I have no interest in ever doing it again. The area is fun though and worth checking out but don't waste your time on the villain line.

 

[pudinhd]

I was halfway through the wait for the 'Conjure a Villain' two years ago before I realized it was a big waste of time. I happened to get the one villain I wanted but I have no interest in ever doing it again. The area is fun though and worth checking out but don't waste your time on the villain line.

The "Conjure a Villain" is more than slightly frustrating. Sometimes you will get a CM who will tell you the next villain, but otherwise it's all just luck - or lack thereof. Plus, they have signs for villains that I never saw, nor did I read anything about those villains being there.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

sgrap --

Not that I've seen either. I've checked the Parks Blog website, the Disneyland Today Facebook and Twitter pages, and the Disneyland Facebook and Twitter pages and...zilch!

I guess we will have to assume that today's "surprise" is one of those mysterious, not-quite-defined "online" surprises instead of an in-park or in-Downtown Disney surprise, which could mean a random email from some segment of Disney, with a surprise attached.

That would all be well and good if we just heard something about it afterwards like, "Jane Doe won a 1-night stay at the Disneyland Hotel, courtesy of Disney Destinations," or "John Doe won a free D23 membership," or whatever.

The thing is, there is no payoff in these random online surprises other than to the specific person or people who win them. All of us who are wasting our time checking websites, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds might like to hear who won what!! Am I alone in that line of thinking?

And...since 50 people won Mickey ears in DL last week, and another 50 won Oswald ears in DCA, does that mean that 50 people would be receiving the "online surprises" too? Out of 50 online winners, someone would have to announce something, somewhere, eventually -- and yet, the mystery of who won what on June 9th (and probably June 2nd too!) lingers on because no one has talked about it anywhere!

Also, if today is not an online surprise but is really something happening at DLR that hasn't been announced yet, it would be nice to know that too.

I think the whole way this #GetHappier surprise deal is set up and structured is bad. It's not about wanting to "win" something for me. I just want some sort of payoff to my time spent searching Facebook, Twitter and the Parks Blog by way of some sort of revelation of what the online surprise was!!!

I agree it is very unstructured and not very interesting
I have also been keeping up with it and have yet to be very happy about what the get happier surprise has been.
I did see the new win trip with a old family Disney photo, the recreate the magic contest.
I saw it on Facebook Walt Disney World page

 

[Sherry E]

They had snow on the castle in 2012. This was taken on October 25th

Very nice, Kilala!

I think that is the first nighttime "crossover" picture I've seen. I've seen a couple of daytime pictures with pumpkins and snow on the Castle, but not night pics.

That would be a shame if it was switched to a Monday but I would definitely go on that Friday. I would still be uber excited about it! I haven't seen the Halloween decorations since 2009, so it has been wayyyy too long. I have a question though. What are the best apps to use in the parks? Is there one for characters?

BebopAngel88 --

At least you'll have one definite day to go, whether it's a Tuesday MHP or a Friday MHP!

Things were different in 2009. I hate to say it, but there were more Halloween decorations in 2009 than there are now. Back then, DCA was decorated too. Now, we are lucky if we can find some pumpkin-shaped bread and a pumpkin chocolate sample at Ghirardelli. Oh, and there is Duffy in his pumpkin outfit in DCA. And a Halloween version of the Mad T Party. Otherwise, nothing in DCA (unless that finally changes this year). Most of the Halloween action is basically in Disneyland.

I don't use apps in the parks, so I don't know if there is one for characters. I know a lot of people use MouseWait, but I don't think that helps with characters.

I was halfway through the wait for the 'Conjure a Villain' two years ago before I realized it was a big waste of time. I happened to get the one villain I wanted but I have no interest in ever doing it again. The area is fun though and worth checking out but don't waste your time on the villain line.

laura&fam --

I think the whole Villain set-up is silly, and is designed to just be a way to give the non-MHP people some sort of Villain in the daytime, but without giving them access to too many Villains -- because the Villains have to be more exclusive to the parties! It's all a sneaky ploy to get people to buy MHP tickets!

The "Conjure a Villain" is more than slightly frustrating. Sometimes you will get a CM who will tell you the next villain, but otherwise it's all just luck - or lack thereof. Plus, they have signs for villains that I never saw, nor did I read anything about those villains being there.

pudinhd --

I remember your experience with meeting the Evil Queen, like, 100 times last year! And I remember that you said those signs were misleading, because most of the Villains on the signs never got "conjured"!

I agree it is very unstructured and not very interesting
I have also been keeping up with it and have yet to be very happy about what the get happier surprise has been.
I did see the new win trip with a old family Disney photo, the recreate the magic contest.
I saw it on Facebook Walt Disney World page

yeheyprincex2 --

I saw that contest as well. Jennifer -- the writer who did the Parks Blog about it -- mentioned trips to Disneyland too, in her post. But the actual contest seems to require WDW photos only. I posted a comment and asked if Disneyland photos are allowed, and received no response? Someone else asked the same thing after I did, and no response!

Oh, and let's not even get into that crazy "blink and you'll miss it" opportunity to get a July 17th Sneak Peek of the 60th anniversary events that popped up on the Parks Blog this morning, and was filled to capacity within seconds -- way before anyone ever even saw the Blog about it! People who were at work or not glued to the Parks Blog never even had a chance to see the Blog and enter because the slots were all filled right away. And you just know that some of the people who frantically entered and won their slots will not show up. There are always no-shows. Those empty spots could have gone to other people!

The #GetHappier thing is just all askew. People are confused. People are wasting time. People are not grasping the concept. People on Facebook are thinking that if they go Mondays, Disney is definitely "giving out stuff," and they may be in for a rude awakening if they end up at DLR on a Monday when it's an "online surprise"!

 

[figment_jii]

That would be a shame if it was switched to a Monday but I would definitely go on that Friday. I would still be uber excited about it! I haven't seen the Halloween decorations since 2009, so it has been wayyyy too long. I have a question though. What are the best apps to use in the parks? Is there one for characters?

I use a combination of Disneyland Wait Times, Mousewaits, and the Times Boards in the parks. For the apps, they depend on in park guests posting wait time information, so it's only good if there are folks positing wait times. I use them to get a sense of the wait times, but I haven't found one that is consistently better than the other. I like Mousewaits a little better because it includes the time when the wait time was last updated, so you can tell if it was recent or hours ago. Mousewaits has entries for the fixed meet and greets (e.g., Frozen, Fairytaletowm Hall), but no schedule/list of other characters.

There is also Touring Plans, but it's not free. The free version only has a handful of rides listed, so I uninstalled it because it just wasn't useful.

 

[2tinkerbell]

I wish Disney would release the Halloween Party times. I have done all the planning that I can right now - hotel, park tickets, air, shuttle. I have an idea of where/what to eat and I am patiently awaiting the time that I can make ADR's. I just need the party times so I can complete my planning.

 

[BebopAngel88]

I use a combination of Disneyland Wait Times, Mousewaits, and the Times Boards in the parks. For the apps, they depend on in park guests posting wait time information, so it's only good if there are folks positing wait times. I use them to get a sense of the wait times, but I haven't found one that is consistently better than the other. I like Mousewaits a little better because it includes the time when the wait time was last updated, so you can tell if it was recent or hours ago. Mousewaits has entries for the fixed meet and greets (e.g., Frozen, Fairytaletowm Hall), but no schedule/list of other characters.

There is also Touring Plans, but it's not free. The free version only has a handful do fridges listed, so I uninstalled it because it just wasn't useful.

Cool! Thank you so much for all the app information.

 

[Sherry E]

I wish Disney would release the Halloween Party times. I have done all the planning that I can right now - hotel, park tickets, air, shuttle. I have an idea of where/what to eat and I am patiently awaiting the time that I can make ADR's. I just need the party times so I can complete my planning.

You read my mind (about the dates), 2tinkerbell!

I was just on my way here to post, and grumble about how Knott's beat Disney to the punch yet again!

Disney is taking its sweet time in letting us know when the MHP dates -- or even just the start date of Halloween Time -- are going to be.

Meanwhile, Knott's Berry Farm already has the dates set for its super-popular "Scary Farm" event. The Knott's Scary Farm dates came out within the last day or two, but I thought I would post them here for anyone who might be interested (I know that some of our Halloween fans also love the scarier, gorier side of things, though many of us do not).

Knott's Scary Farm's dates are: September 25, 26, 27, October 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31 & Nov. 1.

It's not the MHP, but it's another option for a popular Halloween activity to do in SoCal, just in case you are a Halloween fan and like to be scared!

 

[BebopAngel88]

BebopAngel88 --

At least you'll have one definite day to go, whether it's a Tuesday MHP or a Friday MHP!

Things were different in 2009. I hate to say it, but there were more Halloween decorations in 2009 than there are now. Back then, DCA was decorated too. Now, we are lucky if we can find some pumpkin-shaped bread and a pumpkin chocolate sample at Ghirardelli. Oh, and there is Duffy in his pumpkin outfit in DCA. And a Halloween version of the Mad T Party. Otherwise, nothing in DCA (unless that finally changes this year). Most of the Halloween action is basically in Disneyland.

I don't use apps in the parks, so I don't know if there is one for characters. I know a lot of people use MouseWait, but I don't think that helps with characters.

I have never been to DCA for Halloween so I am pretty excited to see all the decorations. Especially in Cars Land! I took my bf for the first time last yr in the summer and he actually loves that park more than DL.

I know that WOC changes for Christmas, but do you know if they do the same for Halloween??

 

[Sherry E]

I have never been to DCA for Halloween so I am pretty excited to see all the decorations. Especially in Cars Land! I took my bf for the first time last yr in the summer and he actually loves that park more than DL.

I know that WOC changes for Christmas, but do you know if they do the same for Halloween??

BebopAngel88 --

Cars Land doesn't have any Halloween decorations, but it's a great land! You won't find much in the way of Halloween décor anywhere in DCA (unless that changes this season). Disneyland park is where most of the Halloween action can be found. DCA has not been in the full Halloween spirit for years -- 2009 was the last really good DCA Halloween year! Since then, it's just little things like what I mentioned yesterday -- Duffy in a pumpkin outfit and a Halloween version of the Mad T party.

WOC does not have a Halloween overlay so far. I wouldn't rule it out from happening at some point in the future.

 

[Kristina4109]

I am patiently waiting for the Halloween party dates to be announced so that I can work AROUND them. You see, we just got back to L.A. after nine days at Walt Disney World.

The trip was fantastic, but the one disappointment was that we had the Fantasmic! dinner package, and we got rained out. So I promised my daughter an early birthday trip to DL to see Fantasmic! with the dessert package.

Her birthday is September 30th so we are tentatively looking at the evening of September 20th. But of course it's a no go if there's a party there. In all our previous birthday trips for her, I never remember a Saturday night party. But still, I won't feel good about our plans until I see the schedule!

 

[Sherry E]

I am patiently waiting for the Halloween party dates to be announced so that I can work AROUND them. You see, we just got back to L.A. after nine days at Walt Disney World.

The trip was fantastic, but the one disappointment was that we had the Fantasmic! dinner package, and we got rained out. So I promised my daughter an early birthday trip to DL to see Fantasmic! with the dessert package.

Her birthday is September 30th so we are tentatively looking at the evening of September 20th. But of course it's a no go if there's a party there. In all our previous birthday trips for her, I never remember a Saturday night party. But still, I won't feel good about our plans until I see the schedule!

Kristina4109 --

I don't think there will be a Saturday night party until next year (when Halloween falls on a Saturday), so I think you'll be safe -- but I can see how you'd want to be sure. Every time we think we have DLR nailed down to some sort of pattern and habit that we can rely on and use for reference, they go and switch things up on us! I'm sure that just as soon as we'd say "DLR won't start the MHP before 9/26," they would suddenly decide to have it earlier in the month! I don't trust them.